Dustless ash receiver



May 18, 1943 c. M. DRINKWATER DUSTLESS ASH RECEIVER Filed June 14, 1941Charles Unkzkwaier Patented May 18; 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEDUSTLESS ASH RECEIVER Charles M. Drlnkwater, Chicago, Ill. ApplicationJune 14, 1941, Serial'No. 398,171

3 Claims. (Cl. 209-446) This invention pertains to improvements in acombined ash and cinder receiver.

A purpose in developing this'invention is to minimize the dustinessoften associated with ash disposal.

A further purpose is to develop for such a receiver a structure that canbe built in large quantities, butrapidly and inexpensively, as inassembly line production.

A special object is to enable manufacturers to use relatively thin gaugematerial to a great extent in building an ash and cinder receiver andyet to produce a substantially dustless receiver.

There have been receptacles for ashes that sift the fines and divertthem into one compartment while conducting the cinders into anothercompartment. Such receivers have contained inlet closures that swingopen when ashes are placed thereon and that are arranged to closethemselves as the weight is removed. Some inlet closures have requiredgearing and rotating spindles. Such types of apparatus not only areexpensive to construct, but are likely to be hindered in their operationby collection of ashes in the mechanism, and they are awkward and slow,to operate.

Dust escapes from ash and cinder receivers to a considerable degree. Theescape is usually around seams or edges .between the body and the ash orcinder doors. This-disadvantage is emphasized when attempts are made touse light gauge metal in the structure. For example, ob,- struction' byash dust often prevents the ash drawer from being pushed into place,unless special attention is given to remove the clogging dust.

01, where cinders are removed through a door,

weight of the cinders may tend to push open the door or pressure againstthe side walls may vbuckle the receiverjand tend to oppose tight sealingof the door. Thus in actual use, receivers may come to' permitconsiderable amounts of dust to escape, and in such cases carelessattendants inadvertently may promote this tendency. One advantage of:this invention resides in the quick acting closure for the single inletby which ash dust is drawn into the receiver, rather than beingpermitted as accumulate and fly about in the atmosphere near thereceiver. Another advantage of this invention resides in the door forremoval of cinders from the receiver. Obstruction by cinders, andscattering and overflowing of cinders near any removal door, and alsodiiliculties to insertion of a shovel into the receiver, all make notonly for uncleanliness from the cinders themselves, but acting againstsuitable closing of a door and act to dissipate ashes and other dustinto the atmosphere. 4

The present invention combats escape of dust from the combined ash andcinder receiver by assuring adequate sealing of various closures. Meansare employed that act effectively despite carelessness on the part ofattendants, and despiteextreme simplicity and cheapness of structure inthe receiver. T

The present invention consists in the combination of parts hereinaftermore fully set forth and described in the appended drawing and in thenovel structure clearly pointed out in the accompanying claims.

. In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a vertical cross section of a preferred embodiment ofimproved ash and cinder receiver under this invention;

Figure 2 is a side view taken at right angles to the section shown inFigure 1 and depicting the top portion of the ash. receiver shown inFigure l;

Figure 3 is a section view of the cinder closure portion of the novelreceiver shown at right angles to the section presented in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a front view of the receiver and particularly of the ashdrawer end of the receiver taken at right angles to the section shown inFigure 1 and taken oppositely to the view of the cinder door 'shown inFigure 3.

'Various objects of this invention and various useful results may beattained by a structure adapted to draw dust into the receiver whilereceiving ashes, and to minimize escape of dust door that opens quicklywith a shovel, and a cinder outlet door that snaps open quickly underthe weight of a shovel. An ash receiver drawer snaps back into firmlyclosed position when pushed into the receiver. The principles of thisinvention may be illustrated by more detailed reference to the preferredform of receiver illustrated in the drawing.

Particular reference is made to the drawing for the purpose ofillustration, but this invention may be practiced otherwise than intheparticular form illustrated In the drawing is shown a receiver -I ofgenerally box-like nature. Internally the receiver is divided by adownwardly sloping screen 2 into compartments to receive separatelyscreened dust and removed cinders. The dust compartment 3 is under theoperating structure will be described more fully hereinafter. The door 5however advantageously rises only a relatively short distance from thebottom of the receiver.

End 6 of the receiver l above cinder doorv 5 slopes rearwardly from thedoor to the top to form a simply constructed ash receiving hopper I.This hopper l is formed within the top of the receiver l by means ofreceiver side walls 8 and 9 and by the receiver rear wall I0. The'hopperopening may be slightly constricted by inner sloping false walls thatare secured within the top edge of the receiver. The front edge of thehopper joins the top of rearwar'dly sloping receiver wall 6 and issomewhat lower than the side edges and the rear edge of the hopper.

A quick acting closure is mounted at the front edge of the hopper. Thiscomprises a simple plate door l2 of dimensions to close the hopperthroat. Plate l2 extends somewhat under the hopper bafile walls I l andis mounted at the front edge by a hinge. The hinge may be formedconveniently for large scale production by striking I out fingers I3from the edges of door l2 and receiver front 6, and by extending a rodacross the front edge of the receiver hopper and through shown in thedrawing comprise a heavy sheet I4 that extends across the hopper frontand is fastened upon door l2 near the hinge. This fastening ofcounterweight plate I4 is accomplished by bending an edge of the plateparallel to hopper door l2, and an intermediate portion of the plate toform a horizontal shelf l5 upon which a shovel may rest conveniently.From shelf IS the major portion of counterweight plate l4 extendsdownwardly along the receiver front 6. Counterweight shelf I5 ispositioned inwardly of door hinge l3 suificiently for weight on anyportion of the shelf to fulcrum inwardly of the hinge. In consequenceany resting of a shovel on the shelf l5 not only pushes door [2downwardly but because of the short leverage from hinge l3 pushes doorI2 downwardly with considerable rapidity. This creates a pronouncedin-rush of air. Thus as soon as a shovel of ashes is placed on doorshelf l5 the hopper throat is opened, while the shelf tilts the shoveldownwardly into the hopper throat. At the same time the rapid opening ofthe hopper door produces a downward draft into the receiver to pull ashdust into the receiver.

A feature of advantage that will be observed in this construction of acounterweight to close the ash receiver door is the width ofcounterweight shelf l5. This shelf is available to open the ash doorquickly wherever along its width a shovel may rest. Though this is anexceedingly simple arrangement, its simplicity is a feature of advantagein use. Careless workmen need pay no particular attention toopening-theash door. Even haphazard resting of the shovel on the counterweightshelf dumps the shovel-ful of ashes downwardly, while the door isopening out of the way and opening in such a rapid manner as to draw ashdust into the receiver. Another feature of advantage in this positiveoperation of the hopper door resides in the fact that opening of thedoor is not dependent on pressure of a shovel against the door itself,but only against the shelf. Thus is avoided any awkward elevatlonof theshovel-handle. Moreover, an advantage of this structure-is the fact thatopening of the door does not depend on the weight of ashes. Wheredependence is placed on the weight of ashes to swing a door downwardly,there comes a time when the weight of ashes is hardlysufiiclent to holdthe door open. In fact this objectionable failure of the ashes to holdthe door open is gradual and occurs during the entire period ofoperation. Gradual closing of the door with ashes yet retained tends tostir up ash dust. In fact ashes or ash dust tend to remain permanentlyon the door. Such conditions make for dustiness. In any event, suchdependence on the weight of ashes themselves to open the door fails to.provide the draft of air that features the cleanliness of this receiver.

From the drawing it will be evident that ashes dropped through thereceiving hopper fall upon inclined screen 2. This screen extends fromback of the hopper opening downwardly to inner partition 4. As will beapparent, the upper portion of the screen is in the line of dischargefrom a shovel that rests upon the shelf l5 as the shelf is tilteddownwardly. Thus the screen is useful throughout its extent and asufficient balance becomes possible between the steepness of the screenand the extent of the screen. Effective screening is obtained withoutrequiring too great length of screen, nor size of receiver. Thestructure is compact and efficient.

The present arrangement likewise facilitates removal of the screen whennecessary. As will be apparent from the drawing, screen 2 comprises atits lower end an angular down-turned face edge I6. This supporting edgeI6 of screen 2 rests against the upper edge I! of vertical innerpartition 4. This structure provides sufficient strength and alsopermits ready removal or insertion of a screen. For example, if onedesires to insert a screen into the receiver, the screen may be loweredthrough the ash hopper while a person .presses down on the hopper shelf15. The lower end of the screen is placed simply against the supportingangle element H. It is removable through the ash drawer.

Under screen 4 is provided an ash receiving drawer l8. This is arrangedto minimize expulsion of ash dust, and yet to permit leakage of air fromthe receiver when an indraft is caused by opening ash hopper closure I2.Ash drawer I8 is adapted to be pulled out from the receiver andconveniently may be provided with handles both front and back. The outerface of the ash drawer 20 extends upwardly, and also downwardly, tooverlap adjacent walls of the receiver. Ordinarily, leakage of ashesmight occur along the meeting faces of this drawer, particularly fromcarelessness in closing the drawer or from accumulation of dust thatwould impede tight closing of the drawer. To combat this tendency, andparticularly in view of the probability of carelessness or inattentionon the part of the. ordinary type of laborer, provision is made to as- Hsure tight closing of the ash drawer. In the first This inclined portionpreferably is intermediate between the'horizontal drawer bottom and ahorizontal front portion of the bottom outwardly of the inclinedportion. Cooperating with this inclined face 2| is a cross rod or roller22 under, the drawer. Thisis secured between the sides of the receivernear the lower edge in such position that when the ash drawer is nearlyclosed, the inclined bottom portion2l rides down over cross roller 22.Thus the drawer propels itself into tightly closed position. The weightof the drawer ordinarily assures setting of the outer face of the drawertightly against the contacting edges of the receiver. More than this,cross roller 22 serves as a balancing element when a drawer containingashes is partly opened. The

drawer partly withdrawn from the receiver is readily tilted so that thefront inclines downwardly and the weight of the ashes promotes outwardmovement of the drawer. Moreover, this downward tilting of the drawerraises the back of the drawer to some extent so as more'conveniently tobe grasped by a laborer. These functions are more readily served wherethe cross member 22 comprises a roller, though a rod alone would serve auseful purpose. In addition,

when element 22 constitutes a roller, the support for the roller may besufficiently loose to permit the roller to be raised slightly away fromthe receiver fioor. This is desirable as an aid to cleaning the flooraround the roller, and so to avoid clogging the path of the drawer orthe action of the roller. A simple arrangement of this sort is ofconsiderable assistance to combat any tendency to carelessness inclosing the receiver. The general effect is to assure snapping intoplaceof the ash drawer so as to resist escape of dust. or inadvertent openingof the drawer. Nevertheless there is such slight leakage of air aroundthe edges of the drawer face as to permit a down draft into the receiverwhen the ash hopper door is swung open.

Further provision against the escape of dust from the receiver isembodied in a closure for r the cinder compartment at the front of thereceiver. This closure comprises a door 23 hinged along 'its bottom edgeto swing outwardly and downwardly. This door extends upwardly along thefront of the receiver. The cinder door comprises guide walls 24 that fitoutside the receiver walls when the door is in upward closed position.This arrangement strengthens the door and also the side walls and tendsto permit use of relatively lighter gauge material in the side walls ofthe receiver. Moreover, these door sides '24 with their extent ofcontact with the receiver walls,- tend to exclude escape of 'ash dustfrom the receiver. To maintain, the door walls in smooth undamagedcontact with the receiver, the door walls 24 are housed in an envelope25. Such an envelope may be fastened outside the door walls. It servesmaterially to strengthen the receiver walls. The envelope may be closedalong the rear side and top and bottom. However the front is left opento permit movement of the door side walls 24 intoand out of envelope 25.This envelope serves not only for protection; it serves a-,2 wardlyalong an inner portion designated as 2 also to resist any tendency ofthe cinder door to fall away from the --receiver.- This is accompllshedby extending a front edge of envelope 25 and inclining it sufficientlytoward the door to exert pressure constantly against side walls 24 ofthedoor. This pressure serves not only to keep the door closed, but alsoto minimize escape of ashes around the sides of the door. Thi isimportant in view of the inward draft created by the rapidly opening ashreceiver closure l2. The envelope 2! serves further as an element tostrengthen the lower side walls of the receiver and counteract bucklingof the material and to permit use of lighter gauge material.

' from spilling out beyond the door.

The cinder door 23 is constructed further with a shelf "along its upperedge. This shelf permits the user to open the cinder door against theconfining pressure of its side walls by the weight of a foot or of ashovel upon the shelf. It is not necessary to stoop over nor apply ahand to the door. More than this, when the door is down so that shelf 26rests on the ground, sumcient space is provided under the front end ofthe cinder door for a foot to be inserted, or a shovel, so as to raisethe door again into closed position. The shelf 23 serves further tokeepthe front edge of the lowered door somewhat higher than the rear orhinged edge, and thus tends to keep cinders The arrangement anddisposition of the cinder door shelf 28 strengthen the edge of the doorso as to minimize buckling or distortion of the door wall, even thoughsome heavy weight inadvertently be placed upon the open door. Thisminimizes escape of ash dust, and promotes the general purpose ofdustlessness in a simple and inexpensive receiver.

It sometimes occurs that the front end of the receiver is lifted fromthe ground in such a way that the cinder door 23 may fall open. Inasmuchas it is'desirable to keep the door side walls within the envelope 24,it is consequently undesirable to permit the door 23 to swing open toofar. Should the door swing open too far it well might happen that theside would not be reinedge of door 23. These comprise a simple straphaving an end projecting downwardly from the door hinge, but tuming withthe opening door, so as to press against the bottom of the receiver whenthe door is finally in opened position. Such pressure of stop elements21 keeps the door in position for the side walls 24 to remain enclosedin their envelope even though the receiver be off the ground. Thereceiver bottom may be supported slightly away from the ground, as isillustrated in the drawing, in order that at any time stop elements 21may bear against the receiver bottom when the door is opened. Thus stopelements 21 cooperate with cinder door shelf 26 and distribute the loadof aligning the cinder door when that door is open.

It will be evident that this receiver is constructed with such extremesimplicity as to facilitate production in quantity and to facilitateassemprevention of the escape of ash dust around the ash drawer and.around the cinder door are maintained .in highly dependable manner.Using elements to strengthen the receiver as well asto hamper escape ofdust permits maintenance of dustless qualities of the receiverthroughout a relatively long period of usefulness.

5 While in accordance with the patent statutes,

I have described a preferred embodiment of this invention, it will nowbe apparentto those skilled in the art that alterations andmodifications may be made within thescope of the appended claims.

What I claim is: 1. In a dustless ash receiver of that type having anopening in the'top for the deposit of ashes, an inclined screen beneathsaid opening and dividing the receiver into a fine ash compartment belowsaid screen and a cinder compartment at the opposite side of saidscreen, and said receiver having a clean-out opening in said ashcompartment, in combination with an ash drawer in said fine ashcompartment having a front wall larger than the clean-out opening tooverlie the edges of said opening when the drawer is in closed position,said ash drawer having a bottom portion upwardly inclined toward thefront of the drawer, and roller means connected to the receiver-having aclean-out opening in said ash compartment, in combination with an ashdrawer in said fine ash compartment having a front wall larger than theclean-out opening to overlie the edges of said opening when the draweris in closed position,'said ash drawer having a bottom portion upwardlyinclined toward the front of the drawer, a rod extending across the fineash compartment, and a sleeve loosely mounted upon said rod to supportthe bottom of said ash drawer, whereby the drawer by its own weight maycause its front wall to be drawn into sealing contact with the wall ofthe receiver about the clean-out opening.

3. In a dustless ash receiver of that type having anopening in the'topfor the deposit of ashes, an inclined screen beneath said opening anddividing the receiverinto a fine ash compartmet below said screen and acinder compartment at the opposite side of said screen, and saidreceiver having a clean-out opening in said ash compartment, incombination with an ash drawer in I said fine ash compartment having. afront wall larger than the clean-out opening to overlie the edges ofsaid opening when the drawer is in closed position, said ash drawerhaving a bottom portion fiat for the greater portion of its length andinclined upwardly near the front wall of the drawer to form a camsurface, a rod extending across the line ash compartment, and a sleeveloosely mounted upon said rod to support the bottom of said ash drawer,whereby the drawer by its own weight may cause its front wall to bedrawn into sealing contact with the wall of the receiver about theclean-out opening.

CHARLES M. DRINKWATER.

